Lagos group rejects Attorney General’s position on Magistrates’ Court Law Amendment
By KEMI KASUMU
The group also said stakeholders had raised constitutional concerns over the inclusion of Law Officers during the public hearing, with the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly reportedly acknowledging the need to uphold the principle of separation of powers.
The Lagos Advocacy Group has faulted the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Lawal Pedro, SAN, over his position on the proposed amendment to the Magistrates’ Court Law of the state.
In a statement on Tuesday September 15, 2026, the group’s Convener and Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch, Comrade Yakubu Eleto, said it was inaccurate to portray the proposed legislation as entirely a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Hon. Ladi Ajomale.
Eleto said Ajomale and Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu did not include provisions concerning Law Officers in their presentations on the Bill on the floor of the House, adding that video recordings of their submissions were available.
The group also said stakeholders had raised constitutional concerns over the inclusion of Law Officers during the public hearing, with the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly reportedly acknowledging the need to uphold the principle of separation of powers.
It questioned the rationale for inserting provisions concerning Law Officers into the Magistrates’ Court Law, arguing that Magistrates and Law Officers are appointed under different laws and serve different arms of government.
On the claim of harmonising salaries and allowances, the group said such harmonisation had previously been achieved through government policy requiring the Governor’s approval, rather than legislation.
It further argued that the proposed harmonisation was questionable because, according to the group, some Law Officers appointed into the Magistracy could be placed on Grade Level 10 despite previously attaining Grade Levels 13 or 14.
The group urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to remove provisions concerning Law Officers from the Bill, warning that replicating similar laws from other states would not justify what it described as potentially unconstitutional provisions in Lagos.
While calling for improved salaries and welfare packages for Law Officers, Eleto urged the Attorney-General to pursue such improvements through lawful policy measures.
He appealed to the House of Assembly to preserve its legislative integrity and ensure a clear separation between the Executive and Judiciary.
“Any provision bordering on Law Officer should be excluded from the Bill,” the group said.
The statement was signed by Comrade Yakubu Eleto, ESQ, Publicity Secretary, NBA Epe Branch, and Convener, Lagos Advocacy Group.
